April 28, 2003 -- Seattle – Newspapers are continuing their commitment to production excellence and respondents to the Newspaper Association of America’s annual Capital Equipment Expenditures Survey say they plan to increase their overall spending on equipment and technology by nearly 10 percent in 2003. The results of this year’s survey were released during the 2003 NAA Annual Convention taking place April 27-30 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers. “Newspapers have weathered the same economic challenges as other businesses and have taken a measured, long-term approach toward holding the line on investments for the future,” said John F. Sturm, NAA president and CEO. “Now that the industry and the economy have taken the first steps toward recovery, newspapers are able to devote more resources to those technical investments.” The total projected 2003 spending for the 260 newspapers responding to the survey is $513 million, up 9.7 percent over actual 2002 spending of $467 million. Projected spending is up dramatically in some areas. The largest projected increases for 2003 are in warehouse/roll handling equipment, up 256.3 percent; image output devices, up 76.6 percent; and external communications systems, up 68.7 percent. Of the survey categories, newspapers plan to spend the most on plant construction, which accounts for more than $140 million of the respondents’ 2003 spending. New presses are expected to account for more than $84 million, up 18.2 percent from 2002; spending for computer software is projected at $71 million, up 45.4 percent; and computer hardware is projected at nearly $56 million, up 49.7 percent. Members of the working press wanting to cover the NAA Annual Convention can register onsite at the NAA Press Office in rooms 422 and 424 of the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers. All media will be asked to show photo identification and current press credentials or a letter from an assigning editor. Special broadcast needs, such as a mult box or camera platform, must be arranged in advance. Sponsors of NAA’s 2003 Annual Convention are APAC Customer Services Inc., American Press Institute, Atex Media Command, Goss International Corp., Heidelberg USA, KBA North America Inc., MAN Roland Inc., Mutual Insurance, NewspaperDirect Inc., Parade Magazine, TKS (U.S.A.) Inc., USA Weekend Magazine, and Veronis Suhler Stevenson.